March 28, 2004

LIONEL HUTZ WASN'T AVAILABLE

French lawyer Jacques Verges has been chasing this particular ambulance since December:

A French lawyer who made his reputation defending some of the world's most notorious figures says he will take on Saddam Hussein as his latest client.

Mr Verges says the request came in a letter from Saddam Hussein's nephew, Ali Barzan al-Takriti.

Good work, kid. You don’t like your Unkie Saddam? Check this lawyer’s list of former clients, and see how many of them aren’t currently dodging the big tattooed guy in the showers.

(Via reader Kevin N.)

Posted by Tim Blair at March 28, 2004 02:24 AM
Comments

He will be supported by a dozen other French lawyers to mount a defence case. (emphasis added)

Hmm. Seems almost like a national undertaking.

Posted by: George at March 28, 2004 at 02:50 AM

My own reaction precisely.

I was afraid he'd get Johnnie Cochran or someone good.

Posted by: PJ at March 28, 2004 at 04:47 AM

I wonder if Carlos's wife, Verges's protege, will be assisting. She was originally retained to defend Zacharias Moussaoui, but apparently that fell through. I was looking forward to seeing how Coutant-Peyre's (and Verges's) French drama-queen hissy-fit tactics went over in an American courtroom.

Posted by: Angie Schultz at March 28, 2004 at 07:36 AM

Try Saddam and then hang him. And maybe his lawyer too.

Posted by: Barbara Skolaut at March 28, 2004 at 11:54 AM


Tim, what are the parameters of your "questionable content" filter?

I attempted to post the mother of all 409 letters (beginning with "In my capacity as nephew of President Saddam Hussein, I commission you officially via this letter to assure the defence of my uncle"), and I got a "questionable content" ruling!

Sheesh!

Posted by: Thorn at March 28, 2004 at 02:36 PM

The message tells you what it was in your post that was rejected. Usually posts that are rejected have the word "your" followed by something containing either "link" or "com" (people with earthlink-dot-com addresses have to do funky things to get their comment accepted).

Posted by: Andrea Harris at March 28, 2004 at 03:03 PM

Dear Mr [MailMerge:Lawyer_Surname]

You may not know of me but I know of you.

In my capacity as nephew of President Saddam Hussein, I commission you officially via this letter to assure the defence of my uncle.

My said uncle has been wrongfully deposed but had the foresight to amass considerable fortunes in Arab Bank under various names. You Mr [MailMerge:Lawyer_Surname] have been nominated by several friends in high places as being a capable lawyers with courage in whom to assist in the struggle to have our uncle freed.

In order to assist in the transfer of our uncles monies it becomes necessary to do so in the absence of detection by the new regime. By the letter of commission, you are empowered to send an eye-watering legal account to us, and we will then pays you with considerable sums amassed in Arab Bank.

However my beliefs is that the sums amassed be paid to my uncles Swiss Bank accounts for which your payment shall be TEN PERCENT (10%) to your account. Please do urgently provide your bank account proprietary details to me in order to arrange transfer facility of your agreed commission.

I shall contact you sooner to confirm transfer details.

Ali Barzan al-Takriti. (nephew).

Posted by: Thorn at March 28, 2004 at 03:11 PM

Thx Andrea. Do you ever sleep?

Posted by: Thorn at March 28, 2004 at 03:13 PM

Saddam has been shoveling money at France for years. Maybe this guy is working pro bono?

Fat chance!

Posted by: JeffS at March 28, 2004 at 04:02 PM

Sleep is for the weak.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at March 28, 2004 at 04:17 PM